The Book of Ruth, read on the harvest holiday of Shavuot, is full of lessons. That of devotion and  loyalty, as Ruth faithfully follows her mother-in-law Naomi after their shared tragedy. That of choosing a new path when Ruth, a Moabite princess converts to judaism, renewing herself and choosing God. Also, the message of virtue, with Ruth’s modest conduct as she picks wheat in the fields.

But there’s one part of the story that’s a bit murky- the romance between Ruth and Boaz. It all starts off pretty low key. Ruth and Naomi, after returning to the land of Israel as widows, are destitute and forced to gather wheat from the alotted corners of the field reserved for the poor.

Boaz, the owner of the fields and a prominent figure, watches Ruth and is intrigued by her. he asks who she is, then gives her more food and ensures her her protection from the working men around her. When Ruth returns home to Naomi, her mother in law sees the possibilities. She instructs her to perfume and beautify herself and to go to Boaz and “uncover his feet,” seducing him into not only marriage, but security for both of them.

Ruth does just that. she goes to the threshing floor in the dead of the night and lies beside him at his feet. Boaz awakens, startled and asks who she is. Ruth identifies herself and offers herself to him. And then Boaz does the unthinkable- he doesn’t have sex with her.

this scene, especially for the times, is mystifying. their roles seem unconventional. usually we’d have this scene in reverse with the powerful male figure making the moves and the female resisting the urge. here we have ruth employing tactics of sexual daring and boldness that were unheard of at the time.

Another rarity, even today- a single man waking up to a beautiful woman in his bed and refusing her advances. Not only does Boaz not sleep with Ruth, but he waits to be with her, marrying her first.

These phenomena are the greatest lesson of all. This role reversal was the only way that what was meant to happen, could happen.

Ruth went against her modest nature, baring herself with an audacious sense of forwardness. But she knew that it was up to her to get what she wanted. Boaz too exhibits an uncommon level of moral rectitude, restraining himself from an opportunity that was at his feet, literally. He knows Ruth’s position and doesn’t exploit or judge her for it. Instead he makes her his wife. It is the union of Boaz and Ruth, two people who fought their nature in a moment of such sexual vulnerability, that results in the birth of King David and ultimately our final redemption with the Messiah.